"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Sunday, January 13, 2013

China - Here we come!

It has been a whirlwind! We received our Travel Approval (TA) on Wednesday, the 9th and we are leaving this coming Wednesday!! Our agency has been wonderful in getting us to China and home before Chinese New Year begins. This was our prayer and we are so thankful that we are going to see Eli very soon.

We will try to blog and post updates and pictures daily while we are away. Here is our itineray:

Wednesday, January 16th - fly out of Cincinnati (4 hour layover in Chicago) and then a LONG flight to Hong Kong
Thursday, January 17th - arrive in Hong Kong and spend the night
Friday, January 18th - fly to Xi'an (We are staying in Xi'an for a couple of nights so we can tour, get acquainted with the time difference, and see the Terracotta warriors)
Sunday, January 20th - take bullet train to Zhengzhou, meet up with our travel group.
Monday, January 21st - Get ELI!!!
Tuesday, January 22nd - Complete adoption registration and then travel to Luoyang (where Eli is from) to apply for Eli's passport.
Wednesday, January 23rd - free day (may see if we can go back to Luoyang to visit the orphanage)
Thursday, January 24th - Receive notary documents
Friday, January 25th - Receive passport
Saturday, January 26th - fly to Guangzhou
Sunday, January 27th- free day
Monday, January 28th - Eli's physical appointment
Tuesday, January 29th - prepare paperwork for consulate appointment
Wednesday, January 30th - Consulate Appointment
Thursday, January 31 - receive Eli's Visa
Friday, February 1- travel to Hong Kong and then fly home!!! (And hug 3 kids that we will miss terribly!)

Thanks everyone for all of your support, encouragement, prayers and help during all of this. We could not do it without you! Please pray for us as we travel. Please also pray for our kids who we are leaving here (in the wonderful care of their grandparents), but who we will miss terribly. Please pray for Eli as the only people and home he knows are about to forever change.

I have been continuously singing this song by Chris Tomlin("Whom Shall I Fear") and I wanted to write a few lyrics as we prepare to leave our comfortable home here and travel across the world to grow our family ...

I know Who goes before me
I know Who stands behind
The God of Angel Armies
is always on my side
The One who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of Angel Armies
Is always by my side

4 comments:

OH MY STARS!!!!!! YOU ARE GOING TO CHINA!!!!!I am so excited for you and can't wait to follow your adventure! Doesn't it just seem unreal when you get that TA and KNOW you are going??!! I pray you will get the chance to visit the SWI for Eli. I know for the first adoption, we weren't encouraged to do anything like that. But for our second adoption we were and did get to go. It was the BEST part of the trip. If I did nothing else in China other than the adoption and the trip to the SWI, I would have felt complete. Will be praying for Eli's transition. You all are so blessed!love and hugs from our fam to yours!

I am praying for a safe journey and cannot wait to see and hear about your adventure to bring Eli home !!! What a precious family you have truly been blessed with. Best Wishes to all of you and I will continue yo follow your blog. The trio will soon become a quad :) Blessings to all fo you.From the Cromer Family

What a beautiful little boy you have. He is precious, and blessed to have you for his parents. It sounds like quite a journey you are on. We look forward to reading more about it and talking with you once you return. Your story is so touching...it makes me want to come to China and bring another one of those babes home into a "forever family". We will pray for all of you during this time of transition.Jeff, Vanessa, Ian, Alec, Elise & Jonah BrownPS - Elise is so excited that Bella has a baby brother too! She says he will play with Jonah!

The Fam

Welcome

Welcome to our blog. We are the Garland family. Michael, Heather, Aidan (12), Keenan (9), Isabella (8) and Eli (3). We brought Isabella home in August of 2009, and Eli home in February 2013. We hope you enjoy our journey as a family of 6!

Aidan

Keenan

Bella

Eli

Our four blessings

Timeline

February 15: Apply to CCAI;
February 16: Apply to FAC (homestudy agency);
May 24: Received Final Homestudy;
May 25: Sent I800A application to USCIS;
July 11: USCIS Approval;
July 20: DTC;
July 24: LID;
August 9: LOI submitted to China, Eli's file locked!!;
August 17: Pre-approval from China;
September 19: Out of Translation;
November 1: LOA;
November 21: USCIS Provisional 800 Approval;
December 18: Article 5 issued;
January 9: Travel Approval!;
January 21: Eli in our arms forever!!